Like many Middle Tennesseans, our family loves visiting the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast for fun in the sun and on the beach.

When I was first out on my own, I wanted to do something very “adult,” like put some pretty plants in pots on my porch.

The summer calendar, which was pitifully empty the last two years because of COVID-19, is loaded with free fun.

Outdoor symphony concerts have been taking place in Nashville since the 1950s, and now, after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the Nashville Symphony’s popular community concert series is back with five free concerts coming up this month.

If you are planning to go to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center’s wet and wild SoundWaves water attraction, it is smart to wait until the outdoor slides and pools are open because they offer even more water and fun at this $90 million water wonder.

The Ms. Cheap T-shirt Drive is back, with the sixth annual collection of shirts for the homeless community running from May 17 through June 6 with multiple drop-off locations across Middle Tennessee.

If you haven’t been to the Parthenon or Centennial Park lately, May offers some perfect opportunities to enjoy the history and see what’s new at this park, which is known as Nashville’s cultural and recreational centerpiece.

Lots of people believe that staying on a tight budget and eating healthy are mutually exclusive.

The Nashville Flea Market is making a comeback, albeit slower than the staff had hoped.

Beaman Park has had a spring “Wildflower Weekend” for many years, but this year, with more staff, this beautiful woodsy park has extended its planned wildflower activities to span a week — April 12-16.

Whether you are “old Nashville” or a new-to-town transplant, the Ladies of Charity consignment sales that feature gently used men’s and ladies clothing and accessories at attractive prices are good to know about.

A night at the ballpark can cost you a bundle. But if you play your cards right, a Nashville Sounds baseball outing can be downright affordable, and a big hit with family and friends.

If you have been a fan of the annual warehouse sale at the Logo Brands headquarters in Franklin, you are really going to like the one-day clearance sale coming up Saturday at the company’s warehouse.

You know it is spring — or almost spring — when Tennessee State Parks announces details of its Spring Hike Day, with hikes being offered at all of its 56 parks.

I have good news for those who want to explore the new National Museum of African American Music but don’t want to pay $24.95 to get in.

Used book sales are a wonderful way to acquire inexpensive reading material, build libraries for children, stock school libraries and classrooms, and at the same time support our public libraries with our purchases.

With so many longtime Midstate restaurants shutting down due to COVID fears, staffing challenges and rising costs of everything, it is wonderful to see a veteran business like Hendersonville’s Center Point Pit Barbecue going strong.

My favorite project of the year is the Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

If you want to see American bald eagles, Tennessee is a good place to be this time of year, with more and more eagle sighting sites at Dale Hollow, Center Hill, Radnor, Watts Bar and Pickwick lakes.

It is a new year and time to do some planning.

This is the time of year when so many of us make resolutions for the year ahead.

Shopping at ThriftSmart is always fun — looking for bargains on household goods, toys and clothing at this South Nashville thrift store. Books are also a draw since the Nolensville Road store has a particularly good, well-stocked book section.

One of my new favorite shopping destinations is Marathon Village.

Yes, the free “Tuba Christmas” concert is back in action this holiday season.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is for my daughters and me to take the grandchildren to the lavishly decorated Gaylord Opryland complex to take advantage of all of the free things to do.

It is so exciting to see lots of our favorite holiday events coming back to life this year as in-person offerings.

As Annette and Mark McCreedy prepare for Christmas gift giving for their family, they don’t have to worry about the pesky supply chain woes that are haunting Christmas shoppers and so much of the retail world.

With the holidays just around the corner and entertaining (almost) back in vogue, buying wine may be on your to-do list.

When I want a cheeseburger, I want the old-fashioned kind — cooked on a grill or griddle with melted yellow cheese and dressed with a thin slather of mustard, and lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle, all served on a soft bun.

Does it seem like the cost of groceries is skyrocketing?

With the cooler weather finally here, it is time to plan some fall walks and hikes with family and friends.

Fall shoe alert!

As Ms. Cheap, I am always looking for places to get a great affordable lunch. And so today, I am asking for your suggestions of places in Middle Tennessee where we can chow down at lunchtime for $10 or less.

Centennial Park will be bustling throughout September with music-loving crowds enjoying the “September Sundown” series of free Musicians Corner concerts.

The arrival of fall brings out the coupon books and cards that students and their families sell as fundraisers for everything from band and playground equipment to computers and student trips and other extras for their schools.

The back-to-school season always brings out a flurry of pop-up children’s consignment sales that feature gently used clothing, toys, books and equipment for infants through teens at prices well below their original retail price.

Volunteer: This does not have to be a big preplanned organized project but could be a last minute neighborhood cleanup that you do on your own or with a group. Or maybe you could spearhead a book drive or food drive, where you pass out flyers to neighbors asking them to put out books or non perishable food for you to pick up and donate to a food pantry or literacy program. And if you want an organized project, Hands on Nashville has a full calendar of volunteer opportunities. HON.org

Dollar General’s new $5-and-under pOpshelf stores are popping up all over Middle Tennessee.

This year the Tennessee tax-free offerings have tripled — not only including the usual back-to-school weekend exemption on clothing, school supplies and computers, but expanding to offer a full week of taxless shopping on food and a whole year of tax-free shopping for gun safes and other gun safety features.

Safari Fridays are back at the Nashville Zoo!

If you are looking for an easy and fun day trip, this Friday’s Cottage Tour and Bazaar at the Monteagle Assembly Grounds is a good bet.

I do love Christmas and was thrilled to hear about the Christmas in July sales at our area Goodwill stores this weekend.

When our mother died after a lengthy illness, my brother donated her leftover medical equipment to the United Cerebral Palsy Equipment Exchange.

I do love a day trip that involves shopping, especially bargain shopping and some good people-watching, too.

Some people go to yard sales with a list of things they are looking for. And some go with an open mind, just enjoying the thrill of the hunt.